Double-needle-bed warp knitting machine



Dec. 7, 1965 R. G. BASSIST 3,221,520

DOUBLE-NEEDLE-BED WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2Sheets-Shee l BY g r Dec. 7, 1965 R. G. BASSIST DOUBLE-NEEDLE-BED WARPKNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 14 0001119 6. 3/55/57 W 4 I w" United States Patent 3,221,520DtlllliiLE-NEEDLE-BED WAR? KNlTTlNG MAQHTNE Rudolph G. Bassist, 366i)Waldo Ave, Riverdale, NFL Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,353 7Qlaims. (Cl. 66-87) This invention relates to warp knitting machines,and has particular reference to apparatus employing two needle beds.

As is known, the yarn employed in a warp knitting machine is initiallywound on one or more horizontally arranged elongated spools or warpbeams and is advanced in parallel rows to a bank of needles movingrapidly in a generally up-aud-down direction. Drive means is providedfor moving the needles through a predetermined knitting cycle, duringwhich the yarn is directed to the needles, and interengaged with them,in accordance with a predetermined pattern. This is accomplished by oneor more guide bars which receive the yarns from the yarn feeding meansand bring the individual strands into predetermined positions forengagement by the needles. The threads are positioned while the needlesare in their upward positions and when the needles move downward theyperform a knitting operation (with the aid of a presser bar and otherauxiliary parts) which thus incorporates the threads into the fabric,course by course. The movement of each guide bar involves a swingingmovement in a backand-torth direction through the bank or bed ofneedles, and intermittent longitudinal movements which are timed inrelation to the needle operation and in response to pattern-controllingapparatus.

For the production of plush-like pile fabrics two needle beds can beemployed, arranged in relatively close parallel relation. Some of theyarn is fed to one bank of needles to produce a knitted fabric, otheryarn is fed to the other bank of needles to produce a second knittedfabric, and a third proportion of the yarn is fed alternately to bothsets of needles to produce strands that extend transversely between thetwo fabrics. When such transverse stands are cut, two separate fabricshaving an upstanding cut pile are produced. in apparatus heretoforeemployed for this purpose, all the guide bars swing back and forth as aunit through both banks of needles. Since there must be at least oneguide bar for each fabric, and since in most cases there are a multiplenumber of such guide bars for each fabric, a relatively cumbersome andheavy mechanism is necessarily involved to move all the guide barstogether from one needle bed to the other and back-andforth through eachbank of needles. This has heretofore imposed limitations upon the speedof operation, and upon the permissible spacing between the needle beds,and has necessitated relatively heavy machinery and considerable powerconsumption.

it is a general object of this invention to overcome these shortcomingsand to provide an improved and simplified double needle-bed apparatushaving greater flexibility and speed, and wider applicability.

It is a feature of the improved machine to provide separate swingingsuspension and control for each of the three guide bar groups. Thus, atleast one primary guide bar is mounted for swinging movement withrespect to one set of needles only, controlling the supply andpositioning of yarn only with respect to that bank of needles; at eastone other primary guide bar cooperates in similar fashion only with theother needle bed; and a third and entirely independent intermediateguide bar (or more than one, if desired) swings back and forth betweenboth sets of needles and positions the pile strands for engagement firstby one needle bank and then by the other. The movements of the guidebars are brought about in a predetermined timed relation so that theyarn-positioning movements of the intermediate guide bar with respect toa needle bed always takes place along with the yarn-positioningmovements of the corresponding primary guide bar.

Other features of the invention include means for readily varying thespacing between the two needle beds; means for correspondingly varyingthe range of movement of the intermediate guide bar; means foraccurately adjustably shifting the center point of such movement; andthe organization and arrangement of the various mechanisms in a mannerwhich is entirely practicable and feasible from a manufacturingstandpoint and which assures reliable and low-cost operation and easycontrol of the desired variables.

As a result of the independent mounting and control of the guide bars inthe manner described, the speed of operation can be materiallyincreased, and the cost of manufacture appreciably reduced; the weightand bulk of the apparatus can be lessened, as well as the power requiredfor operation; and fabrics having higher piles, and more readilyvariable pile heights, can be produced at low cost and with reliableresults.

One way of achieving these objects and advantages, and such otherbenefits as may hereinafter be pointed out, is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view, of diagrammaticcharacter, of a double-bed warp knitting machine embodying the featuresof this invention;

FIG. 1a is an enlarged fragmentary detail along the line 1a1a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the swinging relationships ofthree guide bars; and

FIGS. 3-8 inclusive are enlarged diagrammatic views, in the samedirection as FIG. 1, showing successive stages of the knittingoperation.

For purposes of clarity, the proportions of the various parts shown inthe drawings, are exaggerated, and do not conform to any particularscale. For the sake of simplicity of illustration only a single primaryguide bar has been depicted for cooperation with each needle bed, andonly a single guide bar has been shown for cooperation with both sets ofneedles. Also, since warp knitting machines are known, the details ofthe main drive, of the cams controlling the various movements and theirtiming, and the mechanisms and supporting structure in general, havebeen illustrated in simplified fashion. It is to be understood thatthere are appropriate warp beams and yarn feeding means, and mechanismsfor controlling and actuating the needles in proper timed sequence, allof which are well known in the art.

One of the needle beds 28 is mounted at the upper end of appropriatesupporting structure 21, this structure being positionally fixed on baseelements 22. The second needle bed 23 is mounted in parallel relation tothe first needle bed, and is supported at the upper end of appropriatestructure 24. This structure is mounted on a base 25 in an adjustablerelationship with respect to the base. Thus, by adjusting thepositioning bolts or equivalent elements 26 and 27, the entiresupporting structure 24 may be adjustably shifted toward and away fromthe supporting structure 21, thus varying the spacing between the twobanks of needles Z0, 23.

Means is provided for moving the needles of each needle bed through theusual knitting cycle. This comprises a main drive shaft 28 andcam-driven transmission mechanism 29 for the needle bed Zll, andcam-driven transmission mechanism 36 for the needle bed 23. Themechanism 30 derives its power from a drive shaft 31 parallel to themain drive shaft 28 and driven by the latter through the intermediary ofa chain or belt 32, and meshing gears 33, 3d.

To allow for the variation of spacing between the needle beds and theircorresponding drive shafts 28 and 31, the belt or chain 32 may beprovided with appropriate slack and idler guide means (not shown).

Suspended for swinging movement on a shaft 35 is a primary guide bar 35which swings back and forth (through an arc diagrammatically indicatedby the arrow 37 in FIG. 2) to loop the yarn 38 in predetermined fashioninto engagement with the needles of the bed 20. A similar primary guidebar 39 is mounted for swinging movement upon its own rocker shaft 4%,parallel to the shaft 35. This guide bar swings back and forth throughan arc diagrammatically indicated at 41 in FIG. 2, and controls theinterengagement of the yarn 42 with the needles of the needle bed 23.

A third guide bar 43 is mounted upon a rocker shaft 4 for swingingmovements through the larger are 4-5 (see FIG. 2) which controls theinterengagement of yarn 46 with both needle beds. The rocker shaft 44 isat an elevation above the level of the shafts 40 and 35, so that themovements of the guide loops at the lower end of the guide bar 43 arealong a relatively flat are between the two banks of needles.

Each of the shafts on which the guide bars are respectively mounted isprovided with its own individual rocker bar. Such a rocker arm 47 issecured to the shaft 35, and similarly, rocker arms 48 and 49 aresecured to the shafts 40 and 44, respectively. There is an actuator foreach rocker arm, and cam means driven by the main drive shaft for movingthe actuators in a predetermined timed relationship. Thus, the rockerarm 47 is articulated at 50 to an actuator 51. This is in turnarticulated at 52 to a rocker 53 pivoted at 54 and actuated by a rod 55.The latter is pivoted to the arm 53 at 56, and at its opposite end it isarticulated to a cam-following arrangement 57 rocking on the shaft 58.The arrangement 57 is caused to be rocked back and forth by the cam 59mounted on the main drive shaft 28.

Similar mechanism, deriving its movements from a cam 60 on the shaft 31,controls the movements of the actuator 61 articulated at 62 to therocker 48.

Similar cam-actuated mechanism (not shown) controls the movements of theactuator 63 articulated at 64 to the rocker 49.

|Whenever the space between the two needle beds is changed, it becomesnecessary, or may be desirable, to make a corresponding change in therange of swinging movement of the third guide bar 43. This is providedfor by the variable articulation between the rocker arm 49 and theactuator 63. Illustrative of a means for accomplishing this is thesuccession of openings 65 formed in the rocker 49, the articulation 64being selectively made with One or another of these openings. Thisobviously changes the effective length of the rocker 49, thus alteringthe swing arc of the rocker shaft 44. Variably adjustable articulationsof other types may be employed, if desired.

A change in the spacing between the needle beds requires, also, that thecenter-point of the swinging movement of the third guide bar 43 beshiftable. This may be accomplished as indicated in FIG. la. The rockershaft 44 is supported upon a bracket 66 provided with slots 67 throughwhich securing bolts 68 extend. To shift the axis of the shaft 44, thebolts 68 can be loosened and the bracket 66 (and with it, the shaft 44)can be adjustab-ly shifted, the bolts 68 being then retightened.

The operations of the guide bars, with respect to the two needle beds,is diagrammatically depicted in FIGS. 3-8. Since the operation isbasically well known, it will suflice to point out that each of theprimary guide bars swings back and forth only with respect to its ownneedle bed, controlling the disposition of yarn with respect to theneedles of that bed, while the third guide bar 43 swings back and forthwith respect to both needle beds, controlling the disposition of yarnwith respect to the needles of both beds. The yarn-positioning swings ofthe third guide bar 43 with respect to each needle bed occur with theyarn-positioning swings of the corresponding primary guide bar. Thus, aswill be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide bar 43 moves with the guide bar36 while the needles 2% are in raised yarn-receiving position.Similarly, while the needles of the needle bed 23 are raised (FIGS. 68)the guide bar 43 swings With the primary guide bar 39 to position theyarns 38 and 42 with respect to this bank of needles.

Because of the fact that each of the primary guide bars is required toswing through only a small arc, the mechanism for controlling thesemovements can be relatively simple and of light Weight, thus greatlyspeeding up the machine and reducing the amount of power required todrive it. Also, since it is only the third guide bar 43 that swingsthrough the full distance between the needle beds, this spacing can beadjusted to a considerably larger degree than has been possibleheretofore, without encumbering the mechanism with relatively heavyequipment and parts, and calling for correspondingly greater drivingpower and slower speed of operation.

It will be understood, of course, that in many respects the detailsherein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in theart without necessarily departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means formoving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feedingmeans, primary movable guide bars in proximity to said needle bedsrespectively, each guide bar being adapted to move back and forth onlywith respect to its own needle bed and controlling the disposition ofyarn with respect to the needles of said bed, a third movable guide baradapted to move back and forth with respect to both needle beds andcontrolling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of bothbeds, means for moving said guide bars in such timed relation that theyarn-positioning movements of said third guide bar with respect to eachneedle bed occur with the yarn-positioning movements of thecorresponding primary guide bar, means for varying the distance betweensaid needle beds, and means for correspondingly varying the range of theback-and-forth movement of said third guide bar.

2. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements definedin claim 1, of means for adjustably shifting the center point of saidrange of movement.

3. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means formoving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feedingmeans, primary guide bars in proximity to said needle beds respectively,each guide bar being suspended for swinging movements upon its own shaftand adapted to swing back and forth with respect to its own needle bedonly, said guide bars controlling the disposition of yarn with respectto the needles of the respective needle beds, a third guide barsuspended for swinging movements upon a third shaft and adapted to swingback and forth with respect to both needle beds, said third guide barcontrolling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of bothneedle beds, and means for rocking said shafts in such timed relationthat the yarn-positioning swings of the third guide bar with respect toeach needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning swings of thecorresponding primary guide bar.

4. In a warp knitting machine, the elements defined in claim 3, saidshaft rocking means comprising individual rocker arms secured to saidshafts respectively, a main drive shaft for the knitting machine, anactuator for each rocker arm, said cam means driven by said main driveshaft for moving said actuators in a predetermined timed relation.

5. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements definedin claim 4, of means for varying the distance between said needle beds,and means for correspondingly varying the swing arc of said third guidebar, said last-named means comprising a variable articulation betweenthe rocker arm and actuator of said third guide bar.

6. In a warp knitting machine, the combination with the elements definedin claim 5, of means for adjustably shifting the axis of the shaft onwhich said third guide bar is suspended, so that the center point ofsaid swing arc can be shifted.

7. In a warp knitting machine, a pair of needle beds and means formoving the needles of each bed through the knitting cycle, yarn feedingmeans, primary movable guide bars in proximity to said needle bedsrespectively, each guide bar being adapted to move back and forth onlywith respect to its own needle bed and controlling the disposition ofyarn with respect to the needles of said bed, a third movable guide baradapted to move back and forth with respect to both needle beds andcontrolling the disposition of yarn with respect to the needles of bothbeds, and means for moving said guide bars in such timed relation thatthe yarn-positioning movements of said third guide bar With respect toeach needle bed occur with the yarn-positioning movements of thecorresponding primary guide bar, said guide bars being individuallysuspended for swinging movements upon separate parallel shafts, themeans for moving said guide bars comprising individual rocker armssecured to said shafts respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,115,023 12/1963Mosig et al. 66-84 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,216 9/1960 USSR.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, Examiner.

1. IN A WRAP KNITTING MACHINE, A PAIR OF NEEDLE BEDS AND MEANS FORMOVING THE NEEDLES OF EACH BED THROUGH THE KNITTING CYCLE, YARN FEEDINGMEANS, PRIMARY MOVABLE GUIDE BARS IN PROXIMITY TO SAID NEEDLE BEDSRESPECTIVELY, EACH GUIDE BAR BEING ADAPTED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH ONLYWITH RESPECT TO ITS OWN NEEDLE BED AND CONTROLLING THE DISPOSITION OFYARN WITH RESPECT TO THE NEEDLES OF SAID BED, A THIRD MOVABLE GUIDE BARADAPTED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WITH RESPECT TO BOTH NEEDLE BEDS ANDCONTROLLING THE DISPOSITION OF YARN WITH RESPECT TO THE NEEDLES OF BOTHBEDS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GUIDE BARS IN SUCH TIMED RELATION THAT THEYARN-POSITIONING MOVEMENTS OF SAID THIRD GUIDE BAR WITH RESPECT TO EACHNEEDLE BED OCCUR WITH THE YARN-POSITIONING MOVEMENTS OF THECORRESPONDING PRIMARY GUIDE BAR, MEANS FOR VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEENSAID NEEDLE BEDS, AND MEANS FOR CORRESPONDINGLY VARYING THE RANGE OF THEBACK-AND-FORTH MOVEMENT OF SAID THIRD GUIDE BAR.